Topic: open internet

Comedian and host John Oliver delivered an epic diatribe Sunday night on HBO’s “Last Week Tonight” against cable companies seeking to create a “fast track” at a premium price for popular websites.

If you haven’t tracked this issue or are looking for a good laugh, watch the segment below. (WARNING: Oliver uses some strong language throughout the commentary. The video contains several “beep” sounds, but viewers will notice it’s still obvious what he’s saying. So — listen with headphones on if you’re at work or around kids.)

The gist of Oliver’s argument is this: If cable companies such as Comcast and Time Warner (which are trying to merge into one mega-company) can make net neutrality sound as mundane as possible, no one will care about their effort to fundamentally change the Internet, where all information is available at the same speed.

“The cable companies have figured out if you want to do something evil, put it inside something boring,” he says.

Over the next four months, the Federal Communications Commission is likely to hear an earful from Americans outraged over the prospect of a “fast lane” connection for websites willing and able to pay top dollar to Internet service providers. Here’s an excerpt from The New York Times’ news coverage of Thursday’s contentious meeting in…

Updated at 9:32 a.m. to reflect the FCC’s vote and to include statements from lawmakers.

Original story:

Today is the day.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is scheduled to propose rule changes that could end the open Internet as we know it and create a fast lane for Internet service providers willing to pay a premium. (Read The Seattle Times’ May 11 and May 13 editorials. Share your thoughts on the Opinion Northwest blog.)

Elected officials unite in opposition to net neutrality (This section will be updated as lawmakers’ responses are received.)

On May 9, 10 U.S. senators (not including Washington’s Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell) sent a letter to Wheeler, strongly urging the FCC to pursue a rule-making process that ensures the Internet remains “open to all, and making sure that Internet access is free from the threat of blocking, discrimination, and pay-to-play schemes.” To U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell‘s credit, she offered the following statement in a April 24 press release: